Sectional portable bowling alley



June 12, 1934. c. s. HAGY 1,

SECTIONAL PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Filed July so, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n u I- I June 12, 1934. c a HAGY 1,962,899

SECTIONAL PORTABLE BOWLING ALLEY Filed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

1 5 which may be quickly and readily set up outdoors or indoors, and when set up will provide for the playing of the game of what is known as ten-pins with all the features of a stationary or built in bowling alley.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the sections of which the alley is composed as to provide for the interlocking of the ends of such sections in such manner as to make the completed alley rigid.

16 Another object of the invention is to provide for the automatic return of the ball to the player after it has been rolled for knocking down the pins.

A still further object of the invention is to provide detachable posts for supporting a net for housing in the ball when it reaches the end of the alley.

With these and other ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in Which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a sectional portable bowling alley.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the outer end section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the underside of one of the intermediate sections.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the inner end section upon which the pins are set and in which the supporting posts are inserted.

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the reinforcing frame molded in the inner end section.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a detail edge view of one of the supporting posts.

Fig. 8 is a face view of Fig. 7.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 10 represents what I call the intermediate sections, 11 the outer end section and 12 the inner end section, and each of these intermediate sections has formed upon one end an extension 13 and upon its opposite end a cut away portion 14a for the reception of the extension of one of the abutting sections.

Upon the end carrying the extension is also formed. a flange 14 below the extension having a V-shaped groove 15 therein and the opposite end of the section carries a flange 16 with the corresponding V-shaped groove 17, said flanges being above the cut away portion 14 so that when the ends of the adjacent sections are brought together, the upper flange of one section will interlock with the lower flange of the other section as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

When the sections have been brought together as in the manner just described, the extension 13 of one section will fit into the cut away portion 14a of the adjacent section, thus securely locking all of the sections together against either sidewise or lengthwise displacement.

The underside of each of the intermediate sections has formed therein a series of cells 18 so as to require less material to mold these sections than if they were solid and also to give a cushioning effect upon the floor or other surface upon '5 which the bowling alley is laid.

The inner section or that section upon which the pins are to be set has circles 20 upon the upper surface thereof, and this section also has an extension 13 formed therewith and a grooved so flange 14 so that the adjacent intermediate section may be locked to this section in the same manner as before described. This inner section has molded therein a reinforcing frame 21 in which are formed the sockets 22, which coincide with the slots 23 formed in the edges of the section for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The outer section is also provided with a cut away portion 14a. and with a grooved flange 16 for interlocking with the flange 14 of the adso jacent intermediate section. The intermediate sections have formed therein near the edges thereof the grooves 25 and the outer section has corresponding grooves formed therein, the outer ends of which latter are closed while the inner section has formed therein the groove 26 which extends around that portion of this section upon which the pins are intended to be set as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and these grooves when the alley has been set up provide guideways for returning goo the ball to the player after said ball has been rolled at the pins.

27 represents four supporting posts each having its lower end inturned as indicated at 28 and these inturned ends are adapted to be inserted in 195 the sockets 22 through the slots 23 and when so inserted the posts will stand in a vertical position for supporting the net 29, said net having holes 30 or eyelets for fitting over the lugs 31 formed on the upper ends of the posts while the lower edges of the net are fastened to the posts by hooks 32. By this arrangement, the net is so positioned and supported, that when balls are rolled at the pins they will be caged by the net and deflected into the groove 26 from which they will roll into the grooves 25 and thereby be returned to the player as will be readily understood. The nets prevent the balls or pins from hitting and damaging furniture when the game is played in a residence.

While the sections of my portable bowling alley may be of any suitable material, it is preferred that they be made of molded rubber of the proper hardness for the purpose since such material is lighter in weight and readily molded into the configurations desirable for the construction of such a bowling alley.

Z-shaped clamps 33 may also be placed in the sockets 22 and their associated slots 23 and fastened to the floor as at 34 to prevent sidewise movement of the inner section 19. Spacing mem-' bers 35 may be used at the rear end of the inner section 19 to prevent it moving rearwardly. Each spacing member includes a body 36 having a lug 37 at one end for insertion in the end sockets 22 and their slots 23 with adjacent shoulders 38 to engage the end of the section 19 while at the other end is a lip 39 to engage a wall or the like.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

a series of alley sections intermediate the ends of said alley, each section having an extension at one end and a cut away portion in the opposite end, and a grooved flange formed on each end of each section, said flanges and extensions adapted to interlock respectively with the flanges and cut away portions of each adjacent section when said sections are brought into alignment.

2. In a portable sectional bowling apparatus, a series of alley sections intermediate the ends of said alley, each section having an extension at one end and a cut away portion on the opposite end, a grooved flange formed upon the end of each section above the extension thereof, and a second grooved flange of mating shape formed upon the opposite end of said section below the cut away portion therein.

3. In a portable sectional bowling apparatus, a series of alley sections intermediate'the ends of said alley, each section having an extension at one end and a cut away portion on the opposite end, a grooved flange formed upon the end of each section above the extension thereof, a second grooved flange of mating shape formed upon the opposite end of said section below the cut away portion therein, an inner end section also having a cut away portion and a grooved flange for interlocking with the end of the intermediate section adjacent thereto, and an outer end section also having an extension and a grooved flange for interlocking with the end of the intermediate section adjacent thereto, and grooves formed in said sections for guiding a ball from the inner section to the outer section.

CHARLES s. 'I-IAGY. 

